By KATH GANNAWAY
AN EXHIBITION at Mont De Lancey in Wandin is a celebration of women.
“It celebrates their creativity and resourcefulness, the ingenuity of women, the friendship of women, and the legacy of women,” said Annette Stone, the woman behind ‘A Woman’s Place’.
The exhibition was officially opened by Yarra Ranges mayor, Maria McCarthy on Sunday 22 February.
Speaking at the opening, Ms Stone said since the beginning of time mankind had been making things, harnessing and adapting raw materials to provide for basic needs.
“We have made our mark on cave and city, enhancing our environment,” she said.
Friendship is the cog of what has resulted in a creative, fun and interesting exhibition.
“While sharing a common interest in creative work, we have weathered the trials and triumphs of life, our friendship a source of inspiration, encouragement and support,” Ms Stone said of the circle of friends whose work featured in the exhibition, and whose friendship spanned several decades.
The gallery at the Mont De Lancey historic homestead is an ideal place for such an exhibition with the works replicating and reinterpreting the heritage crafts of the pioneer settlers, examples of which are on display throughout the homestead.
“You can teach someone to do something in five minutes, but it takes a lifetime to develop and perfect that skill,” Ms Stone said.
“In the learning, we develop an appreciation for what is involved.”
She said some people would never understand why anyone would take a perfectly good piece of material, cut it into tiny pieces and start to sew it back together again.
“There’s a lot more happening than stitching,” she said, adding that A Woman’s Place was about celebrating the uniqueness, friendship, support and encouragement that existed, and inspiring and teaching others into the future.
The exhibition runs until 22 March at Mont De Lancey, Wellington Road, Wandin. It is open from Wednesday to Sunday.
